The semi-finals are starting and none of the favourites has made it this far. It can be said that only the predicted underdogs remain in the tournament. Maybe at the start, we could have talked about Italy as one of the teams that could win the championship, but that’s about all. This is why it is now harder to predict who will make the Great Final.
FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP – SEMI-FINALS
Ukraine U-20 – Italy U-20
Venue: Gdynia Stadium, Gdynia
Both of these teams are on an unbeaten streak – Ukraine have not lost in their last 9 matches, Italy – in their last 5. Both of these teams have had one draw and 4 wins in this World Cup so far. Even their goals difference is very similar: Ukraine – 9:3, Italy – 8:3. However, the Ukrainian team have been a revelation at this tournament for sure, but Italy was predicted to achieve better results. Will the Ukrainians keep moving forward and upsetting the odds? Or maybe Italy will find the receipt for stopping them and ending their 9 matches unbeaten run that started in November last year?
STATSCORE Prediction: Italy – Ukraine: 1
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Ecuador U-20 – Republic of South Korea U-20
Venue: Arena Lublin
How did this happen? The South Korea team have ended up in the semi-finals! After their first group match ended with a loss against Portugal, there was a black perspective about upcoming matches, including the game against their top-class rivals from Argentina. But against all the odds, the Koreans won the two next matches and calmly advanced to the knockout stages. In the next two play-off matches, they kept us on edge as the results were decided late in the games. They scored a deciding goal after 83 minutes in their last 16 match against Japan and finished the quarter-final against Senegal by scoring an equalizer in the 98th minute! After that, they went on to win the penalty shootout.
Ecuador won only 1 group match but they advanced from 3rd place and since then they have just got better and better. They beat the favoured Uruguay and USA teams in the play-off stages. It is quite possible that the South Korean’s luck will run out in this match against the South America Champions.
STATSCORE Prediction: Ecuador – South Korea: 1
